2012 Lumen Gentium Awards

July3,2012

Terry and Peter, as a married couple, project the marriage of Christ to his church to many young, impressionable college students. Making the Catholic Student Center their home away from home. Terry's eye for spiritual beauty compliments Mass; she makes sure liturgical linens are always available. She can frequently be found in the parish kitchen sharing her culinary talents. Peter is a Third Order Franciscan who serves as a lector and Finance Council member. He is handy with tools, which has helped resolve storage problems. He also serves as an RCIA and sacramental preparation catechist. They serve as mentors to single and married young adults.

Criteria:

Lay individuals, paid or volunteer, who exemplify the spirit of Christ as explained by the documents of the Second Vatican Council. (“You are the light of the world… your light must shine in the sight of all, so that, seeing your good works, they may give the praise to your Father in heaven.” Mt. 5:14, 16) The lay person should be someone who lives his or her baptismal call in an extraordinary way through stewardship and leadership. This may include service in direct parish ministry, but can also include Christian service to the greater community. To quote from “The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium):” “The laity, however, are given this special vocation: to make the Church present and fruitful in those places and circumstances where it is only through them that she can become the salt of the earth.”

Only one individual should be nominated per parish, and he or she must be a lay person (not a priest or deacon). The only exception to this is a married couple may be nominated. If married, the nominee/s, whether nominated individually or as a couple, must be in a valid Catholic marriage; and live a life of active faith in the Catholic Church.

Nominations Process:

Each pastor will have the opportunity to select one individual each year. It is left to the discretion of the pastor to determine the process within his parish: i.e., he could make the selection, ask the pastoral council for suggestions, etc. Please send the nominee’s name to the bishop’s office so that an individualized memento can be prepared.